Nottingham Forest

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BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Deeba asked: Which player has been the biggest surprise in the Premier League this season and why?

Phil answered: I would say Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest. He has taken his game to a completely new level under Nuno Espirito Santo and looks a top-class striker and finisher, with 11 Premier League goals already.

Great news for Nottingham Forest as he has been central to their wonderful season.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 20, he takes on The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe, who supports Liverpool.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

This is the Nuno Espirito Santo derby, with Nuno going back to Wolves where he did such a brilliant job between 2017 and 2021.

Nuno is doing even better with Nottingham Forest at the moment, but Wolves have hit a bit of form under new boss Vitor Pereira as well.

I saw Pereira do a little jig after his side got a late point at Tottenham. He seems a real character and his team are showing plenty of spirit too, but I am not sure they will carry the same threat now Matheus Cunha is suspended.

I was wrong when I said Forest would draw at Everton last time out so this time I am going to back them to take all three points.

As I've mentioned before, Forest were my boyhood club so it is great to see them doing so well.

It is like the late 1970s again, with them and Liverpool fighting it out at the top of the table. After this game, their next league match sees them play each other, with Forest looking to do the double after winning at Anfield in September.

Being honest, I don't see Forest staying at the top end of the table for too much longer but most of my predictions have been so bad this season so that is probably good news for them.

McCabe's prediction: 1-2

Forest are playing well and they should win this one too.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who has the best chance of securing Champions League football next season?

With England given a 97.8% chance of finishing in the top two of Uefa's coefficients rankings and receiving a bonus place in next season's competition, it is highly likely to be a race to finish in the top five of the Premier League this campaign.

One team essentially guaranteed a Champions League spot season, according to the Supercomputer's simulations, is high-flying league leaders Liverpool (100%).

Following closely on their heels are Arsenal and Chelsea, who occupy second and fourthgoing into this weekend's fixtures, with a 99.8% and 91.7% chance of finishing in the top five respectively.

Despite their unprecedented drop-off in form over the past two months, Manchester City fans will be pleased to hear Opta still gives them a 89.1% chance of clinching the potential final Champions League spot next season.

It then becomes a hotly fought battle between two of the most in-form teams in the league right now.

Despite third-placed Nottingham Forest's incredible campaign so far, Nuno Espirito Santo's side still fall below Newcastle United in the predictions for fifth place - with a 33.6% chance compared to the Magpies' 44.6%.

Four teams still have an outside chance of getting that coveted spot, with Aston Villa (13.8%), Bournemouth (9.8%), Fulham (6.2%) and Tottenham (5.4%) in the race.

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game at Wolves (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi are "much better" and could be selected: "We will decide tomorrow but I think they're going to be OK."

• On contract extensions for Ola Aina and Chris Wood: "I think things are going well and the players are working very, very good."

• He said Forest are "enjoying" what they are doing and "living in the moment". He added: "The boys have been working hard since day one and they commit themselves. What I hope and want is to continue performing well and making our fans happy."

• On the transfer window, he said: "The most important thing and the only thing that is really basic for us is that we don't get distracted by the transfer window. Players that are here [need to] stay focused, commit themselves and work hard, and let things happen naturally. People who have to deal with that will deal with the work. But in terms of the group and work ethic, it has to stay the same."

• Nuno added: "You never know what is going to happen in the transfer window, but our goal is to keep our players intact. That is difficult because clubs are looking at all the possibilities, with us included on that. This is our priority."

• On the eight-day gap between the win at Everton and the trip to Wolves: "We have to prepare for the game - that's what we've been doing. It's time to go again and ask the boys to give it everything that they have. That's the idea - no stepping back, we are moving forwards. We have more time [to prepare] but it was necessary because we had a very busy schedule and very demanding and intense games against tough opponents. It was good in terms of recovering."

• On new Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, who has picked up seven points from his first three games in charge: "It's too soon to see the change. You can see the players, the look and the results help; the performances help. I know Vitor from a long time ago, the beginning of our careers. He's had a very good career as a manager. We expect a tough match against good teams. Wolves have a very good squad."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Chris Wood has scored 22 goals in 35 Premier League games under Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

One more goal would see him be the top-scoring Forest player under one manager in the Premier League, with Stan Collymore scoring 22 times under Frank Clark in 1994-95.

Nottingham Forest will listen to offers for Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi, 27, this month, if they can secure a replacement of similar ability. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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We asked what Nottingham Forest's New Year resolutions should be.

Here are some of your replies:

Rob: It is an incredible thing that I am struggling to think of anything I'd like Forest to do differently or that can be improved. Losing to Manchester City is our worst result of the season, so I'd like us to go at the "big" teams a bit more and show them less respect. When we inevitably have another blip, we should remain confident and remember how good we are and what we achieved in the first half of the season.

Jason: Bottle what we have for the rest of the season and get Taiwo a goal!

Alison: Stay humble, stay focused, stay together as a team.

Matt: Keep all of the key players at all costs. Why go to a rival club when we are (in most cases) higher in the league than them currently?

Darren: To keep Murillo, Milenkovic and Aina and to tie them to long-term contracts.

Hamid: Extend Wood's contract! And knight Nuno.

Dave: We've had an incredible 2024, I don't think anyone expected us to finish the year so well placed in the league and looking like a very strong outfit. If we're to compete long-term however, we need a much larger stadium, and I would like to see clarity and urgency on our expansion plans for the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest are confident of agreeing a new contract with Nigeria full-back Ola Aina, who is a target for Manchester City. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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While Liverpool cruise along like a Formula 1 car, Nottingham Forest have quietly moved into their slip stream in a sensible saloon.

I was at Goodison Park on Sunday, (sadly Everton looked like the cheap, battered old jalopy gamely chuntering away in the distance in this race), and was very impressed by the old-school common sense manager Nuno Espirito Santo has brought to the club - and indeed the wider Premier League.

None of this 'playing purely on principles that cannot be adapted whatever happens' but a willingness to adapt in time-honoured ways to specific circumstances. A goal up late in the game? Bring on another centre-back to hold out. Simple.

They could use a modern false number nine and indeed have now and again, but if it is a classic, big natural striker who has a nose for a goal, can hold the ball up and will rough up the centre-backs to create space into the bargain, then why not do that if it works.

This style might have been de rigueur decades ago, but if it works now, with a couple of quick old style wingers providing service for him, then why not keep using it?

Their real strength is the balance of the squad. Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White may catch the eye above the others but it does not feel like the whole thing will fall if they are not available. The understudies are perfectly capable.

Compare that with the drop off at Manchester City when Rodri is missing, Arsenal without Martin Odegaard or Chelsea shorn of Cole Palmer.

This is why Forest might stay the pace and be playing European football next season.

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AC Milan and Napoli are among the clubs who could move for 33-year-old Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, should the New Zealand international fail to agree a new contract with the club. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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The Premier League table has a retro feel about it at the halfway stage.

With 19 games played, Nottingham Forest lie second and are tussling with Liverpool, similar to when they locked horns for silverware in the late 1970s and during the 80s.

Forest beat Everton 2-0 on Sunday with their fans leaving Goodison Park and heading back to the Midlands singing "we're gonna win the league".

Doing 'a Leicester City' and claiming the trophy might be a stretch, particularly as it would require a significant collapse from Liverpool.

But for now, they are drinking in every moment.

Forest have capitalised on members of the traditional top six faltering this season.

Champions Manchester City's crisis has been well-documented, and they currently sit in fifth place, while Tottenham and Manchester United are nowhere to be seen, languishing in the bottom half of the table.

Aston Villa's packed schedule is catching up with them - they are down in ninth place after finishing fourth last season.

"Our expectations are the same," said Nuno Espirito Santo. "We have to prepare for the next one."

That game in the new year comes against his former club Wolves - who are rejuvenated under new manager Vitor Pereira - but a good result there is another step closer to retro becoming a new reality.

Read the full piece over here

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On BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, presenter Rick Edwards asked if there was a danger that other clubs may attempt to sign some of second-placed Nottingham Forest's top talents in the upcoming January transfer window.

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards said: "Normally yes, but nobody has got money in January. The only club with money to spend is Manchester City. That's the only one with a lot of room for manoeuvre.

"All the sporting directors and executives I have spoken to heading into the window are all saying they think transfer fees are going to fall and it's going to be quiet again, as we saw last January when virtually nothing happened. So many clubs are on their PSR [profit and sustainability] limit.

"In times gone by, you would look at the Forest team and think they are vulnerable. That someone could come in and chuck £50m, sign one of their centre-backs and break up that partnership or lure say Morgan Gibbs-White or Anthony Elanga away. But I don't think there is any leeway for even the richest clubs in the country to do that any more.

"That means this Forest team should stay together in January - certainly until the summer - and that gives them a wonderful chance. They've set themselves up for a thrilling second half of the season."

Ex-Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison agreed: "Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo are the two I look at and think they can go to the next level. Gibbs-White has been outstanding and teams will be looking at him. Chris Wood is 33 so nobody's going to pay big money and I think he'll sign a new contract there.

"If Forest can stay in among it and then be playing European football, they will hold on to those types of players."

Listen to more analysis on BBC Sounds

Christmas is boxed off.

We're almost through the confusing days before New Year and January is within touching distance.

And we need your help - what is Nottingham Forest's New Year's resolution?

It could be a new player to sign, a tactical system to implement, an off-the-pitch matter or something else entirely.

Let us know

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily on second-placed Nottingham Forest:

"Huge credit must go to Nuno Espirito Santo and I know the owner is very ambitious. He could go in January and spend more money to try to make them kick on.

"Do I think they'll win the Premier League? No. Do I think they'll finish in the top four? I don't think they will.

"But they have got a chance of the other European places, for where we are in the season and how many points they've got. They'd have bitten your hand off [for this position] after fighting relegation last season."

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards added: "[The defence is] the foundation of their success for sure and they've got this wonderful, electric pace on the counter.

"I've been expecting teams to work them out. I keep thinking they're going to fall away and drop off, and they're just not. If anything, they're getting stronger.

"It's one of the great things about the Premier League at the moment. We had that romantic story of Leicester winning the league and we said it was a once-in-a-generation thing. I agree with Clinton that I don't think they can win the league, but I said at the time that Leicester can't win the league.

"In the past couple of years, you've had Newcastle and Aston Villa getting into the Champions League, so why shouldn't Nottingham Forest now start to believe? If they maintain this form in the second half of the season, they're going to finish in the top four."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Everton and Nottingham Forest, which finished 2-0 to Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

David: Once again Everton fail to produce at home. After a fighting performance at Manchester City, they are truly embarrassing at Goodison Park. Another home defeat, another inept performance by all in royal blue.

Mark: Once again, we had no quality in the final third of the pitch. Even with two centre-forwards on for the final 30 minutes, there was only one cross of note. Both full-backs wasted good positions with hit and hope passes. But, we will just survive the drop.

Gerard: Another insipid display from a team that lacks any ounce of creativity. I've never seen an Everton team so devoid of ideas in the final third and I've seen some shockers over the years. The club needs a reset and the owners will need to take action if they want to ensure we start next season in the Premier League. Fair play to Nottingham Forest - they deserved it.

Mark: Time is running out forSean Dyche. All he knows is uninspiring, turgid football.

Forest fans

Daren: I'm so very proud of Nuno Espirito and the team. Along with our brilliant fans, we're all on the same page. I've been a Nottingham Forest fan since 1976 and I've not seen this kind of togetherness since Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. With our owner, manager, players and fans, we can dare to dream again.

Ken: Beat Wolves next week and then complete the double over Liverpool and the title race is well and truly on. Each week that goes by, the laughing emojis continue - let them. I still maintain we can win this league - especially when the business end of the Champions League kicks in...

Matthew: I'm just happy we are now safe from relegation. From here, anything else is a bonus.

Phillip: All credit to Nuno. Steve Cooper will always be a fan favourite, so he has done an absolutely amazing job to earn the love of the fans so quickly. And let's not forget Evangelos Marinakis. All three are on the way to being Forest legends.

Adam Cottier
Final Score reporter at Goodison Park

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Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White already had significant Premier League experience before they joined Nottingham Forest, but all three appear to have taken significant strides this season to lift Nuno Espirito Santo's side to a place where dreams may become reality.

The trio combined for both Forest goals at Everton, exhibiting their abilities in sparkling fashion. Gibbs-White is inventive and direct, Elanga gives width and dynamism while Wood is capable of so many different types of goals.

The whole team looks streetwise and ready to navigate the route to the Champions League, but those three were particularly impressive on Sunday in a game where Forest had to dip into their squad a little further because of key absentees.

They have players on top of their game and players who can step up. It is an incredible story considering where they were in the last campaign.

Heady days indeed.

Kelly Somers introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest

• West Ham United 0-5 Liverpool

Manchester City are eyeing 28-year-old Nottingham Forest and Nigeria right-back Ola Aina as a replacement for their 34-year-old Englishman Kyle Walker. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column